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    The first name Gerald

    A boy’s name meaning “spear”, “might”, “power”.

    Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɛɹəld/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Gerald means “spear”, “might”, “power”.

    From Old French, ultimately from Frankish *gaiʀ (“spear”) + *wald (“might, power”). The name was brought to England by the Normans. It survived in Ireland, and was revived in the 19th century.

    More names that mean strong, sword.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 10 boys were named Gerald, making it the 2,269th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 23 births (#680).

    01530 1996200020052010201520202025
    377
    babies named Gerald, 1996–2025
    #2,269
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Gerald with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Gerald at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 168 boys born in the United States were named Gerald, the 1,206th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1942, when 11,484 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    451,351
    babies named Gerald since 1880
    #1,206
    rank in 2025
    1942
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Gerald in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    傑拉爾德 /杰拉尔德
    Jiélā'ěrdé
    Chinese
    Gervold
    Danish
    Gérald
    French
    Γεράλδος
    Geráldos
    Greek, also Τζέραλντ
    Geri
    Italian, also Geraldo
    Geraldus
    Latin
    Geraldo
    Portuguese
    Geraldo
    Spanish
    Gerallt
    Welsh

    Spelled Gerald in German too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Gerald

    180 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Gerald Edelman
      American biologist (1929–2014)
    • Gerald Vanenburg
      Dutch association football player, born 1964
    • Gerald Durrell
      British naturalist and writer (1925–1995)
    • Gerald Asamoah
      German association football player, born 1978
    • Gérald Passi
      French association football player, born 1964
    • Gerald Gardner
      British Wiccan leader (1884–1964)
    • Gérald Darmanin
      French politician, born 1982
    • Gerald Wallace
      American basketball player (born 1982)
    • Gérald Lacroix
      Canadian cardinal, born 1957
    • Gerald Carr
      American astronaut (1932–2020)
    • Gerald Bull
      Canadian artillery engineer, entrepreneur (1928–1990)
    • Gerald Cohen
      Canadian political philosopher, founder of analytical Marxism (1941–2009)

    Questions

    What does the name Gerald mean?
    Gerald means “spear”, “might”, “power”.
    How popular is the name Gerald?
    In 2025, 10 boys born in England and Wales were named Gerald, ranking 2,269th. Its peak was 1996, with 23 births.
    Is Gerald a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 451,351 US babies named Gerald since 1880 were boys.
    When was Gerald most popular?
    1942 in the United States, when 11,484 babies were named Gerald, its highest rank at 22nd.
    How do you pronounce Gerald?
    Gerald is /ˈd͡ʒɛɹəld/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Gerald?
    Jerrold and Jerald.
    Is Gerald also a surname?
    Yes. Gerald is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.